How to Propagate Houseplants from Cuttings: Easy Guide - Plant Care Guide

Propagating houseplants from cuttings is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to grow your plant collection without spending much money. Whether you’re a seasoned plant parent or a beginner, learning how to propagate from cuttings opens up a world of possibilities. It’s simple, fun, and can save you from buying more plants. You can share plants with friends, rescue a plant in distress, or just experiment with creating new greenery from your favorites.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of propagating houseplants from cuttings, step by step. You’ll learn about the different types of cuttings, the tools you need, and how to care for your cuttings as they develop into thriving plants.

Benefits of Propagating Houseplants from Cuttings

Before diving into the steps, let’s highlight some of the benefits of propagating houseplants from cuttings:

• Cost-effective: You can create new plants from the ones you already own without needing to buy more.
• Saves distressed plants: If a plant is struggling, taking cuttings from the healthy parts can help you save it.
• Sharing with friends: You can propagate plants to give as gifts or exchange cuttings with fellow plant lovers.
• Sustainability: Growing plants from cuttings reduces waste and supports a more eco-friendly approach to gardening.

Tools You’ll Need for Propagating Cuttings

To successfully propagate houseplants, you’ll need a few basic tools and materials. These items make the process easier and increase your chances of success:

• Pruning shears or sharp scissors: Clean, sharp shears ensure clean cuts and reduce the risk of disease.
• Rooting hormone: This helps encourage root growth and increases the success rate of propagation.
• Glass jars or small pots: Perfect for placing your cuttings in water or soil.
• Potting mix: A well-draining, light soil mix is essential for root development.
• Water: Clean, room-temperature water for rooting cuttings in water.
• Plastic bag or clear cover: Optional, but this helps retain moisture and create a mini greenhouse effect.

Shop for pruning shears (available for $10–$25) to make clean cuts when taking plant cuttings.

Types of Cuttings for Propagation

There are several different types of cuttings you can take from houseplants, depending on the plant species. Understanding these types will help you choose the best method for your plant.

Stem Cuttings

The most common and easiest way to propagate many houseplants is through stem cuttings. This involves cutting a section of a plant’s stem that contains at least one or two nodes (the points where leaves grow). Plants like pothos, philodendrons, and monsteras can all be propagated through stem cuttings.

1. Locate a healthy stem: Look for a stem with at least two to three healthy leaves and one or more nodes.
2. Make the cut: Using clean shears, cut just below a node.
3. Remove lower leaves: If leaves are near the bottom of the cutting, remove them so they don’t sit in water or soil and rot.

Order rooting hormone powder (available for $5–$15) to help your stem cuttings grow roots faster.

Leaf Cuttings

Some plants, such as succulents or snake plants, can be propagated using leaf cuttings. This process involves taking a single leaf or part of a leaf and placing it in soil or water to grow roots.

1. Choose a healthy leaf: Select a mature, undamaged leaf from the plant.
2. Cut the leaf: For succulents, simply remove the leaf from the stem. For snake plants, you can cut a section of the leaf into 3–4 inch pieces.
3. Allow to callous: Let the leaf sit out for a day or two so the cut end can form a callous. This prevents rot when planted.

Find small plant pots (available for $10–$30) to plant your leaf cuttings and help them root.

Root Cuttings

Some houseplants, like ZZ plants or African violets, can be propagated from root cuttings. This involves taking a section of the plant’s root system and planting it to grow a new plant.

1. Dig up the roots: Gently dig up part of the plant and look for a healthy root section.
2. Cut a piece of the root: Using clean shears, cut a 2–3 inch piece of root.
3. Plant the root cutting: Place the root cutting in fresh potting mix, and water lightly to encourage root growth.

Get potting mix (available for $10–$25) that works well for root cuttings and provides excellent drainage.

How to Propagate Cuttings in Water

Water propagation is a popular and easy way to grow roots from cuttings. This method is great for plants like pothos, philodendron, and spider plants, which root easily in water.

Steps for Water Propagation

1. Take the cutting: Choose a healthy stem and cut just below a node. Remove any lower leaves that would sit in the water.
2. Place in water: Put the cutting in a clear jar of room-temperature water, ensuring that at least one node is submerged.
3. Change water regularly: To prevent bacteria buildup, change the water every few days.
4. Wait for roots to grow: Over the next few weeks, you’ll see roots start to develop from the submerged node. Once the roots are 2–3 inches long, the cutting is ready to be potted in soil.

Use a set of glass jars (available for $15–$40) for water propagation, as they make it easy to see root growth.

How to Propagate Cuttings in Soil

For plants that don’t root as easily in water, or if you prefer to skip the water stage, soil propagation is another effective method. Plants like succulents, snake plants, and ficus often do better when propagated directly in soil.

Steps for Soil Propagation

1. Prepare the pot: Fill a small pot with a well-draining potting mix. Make sure the soil is slightly damp, but not soaked.
2. Dip in rooting hormone: To encourage faster rooting, dip the end of the cutting in rooting hormone.
3. Plant the cutting: Insert the cutting into the soil, burying the node or the bottom part of the cutting. Press the soil around the cutting to secure it.
4. Cover the pot: For plants that need high humidity, you can cover the pot with a plastic bag to create a mini greenhouse effect. This helps retain moisture and warmth.

Order humidity domes (available for $10–$30) to help your soil cuttings root in a high-humidity environment.

Best Houseplants to Propagate from Cuttings

Not all plants propagate easily from cuttings, but there are many common houseplants that root successfully through this method. Here are some of the best houseplants to propagate from cuttings:

1. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos is one of the easiest plants to propagate, making it perfect for beginners. Its fast-growing vines can be propagated by stem cuttings in either water or soil.

• Method: Stem cuttings.
• Ideal propagation medium: Water or soil.

Get pothos plants (available for $10–$25) to start propagating your own trailing vines.

2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider plants produce small offshoots called “spiderettes” or “pups” that can be easily propagated by cutting them off and placing them in water or soil.

• Method: Offshoots or pups.
• Ideal propagation medium: Water or soil.

Order spider plant cuttings (available for $10–$20) to enjoy this easy-to-propagate houseplant.

3. Philodendron (Philodendron spp.)

Philodendrons, like the heartleaf variety, are popular indoor plants that root easily from stem cuttings. They’re fast growers and do well in both water and soil propagation.

• Method: Stem cuttings.
• Ideal propagation medium: Water or soil.

Find philodendron plants (available for $10–$30) to start propagating these fast-growing, beautiful plants.

4. Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)

Monsteras are highly prized for their unique, split leaves, and they propagate easily from stem cuttings. Monsteras can be propagated in water or soil, but they need a warm, humid environment to thrive.

• Method: Stem cuttings.
• Ideal propagation medium: Water or soil.

Order monstera plants (available for $15–$40) to propagate this iconic tropical plant.

5. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Snake plants are excellent candidates for leaf propagation. You can take a leaf cutting and plant it in soil, where it will gradually grow new roots.

• Method: Leaf cuttings.
• Ideal propagation medium: Soil.

Find snake plant cuttings (available for $10–$30) to propagate this hardy, air-purifying plant.

Caring for Cuttings After Propagation

Once your cuttings have rooted and been potted in soil, it’s essential to provide the right care to help them grow into healthy plants. Here are some tips for taking care of your newly propagated houseplants:

Light

Cuttings need plenty of indirect sunlight to grow, but direct sunlight can be too harsh, especially when they’re young. Place your newly propagated plants near a bright window where they’ll receive indirect light throughout the day.

Use a grow light (available for $15–$50) if you don’t have enough natural light to help your cuttings thrive.

Watering

Water your new plants carefully. Overwatering can cause rot, while underwatering can slow down growth. Keep the soil evenly moist, but allow it to dry out slightly between waterings.

Humidity

For tropical plants like philodendrons and monsteras, higher humidity is beneficial. You can mist the plants regularly or place them near a humidifier to maintain an optimal environment.

Order a humidifier (available for $20–$60) to create the ideal humidity for your new houseplants.

Fertilizing

Once your cuttings have established roots, you can start feeding them with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. This will help promote strong growth and healthy foliage.

Get houseplant fertilizer (available for $10–$25) to support healthy growth for your propagated plants.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even experienced gardeners can encounter challenges when propagating plants. Here are some common problems and how to fix them:

Cutting Fails to Root

If your cutting isn’t growing roots, it might be due to lack of light or moisture. Make sure it’s placed in a bright spot with indirect light and that the water is kept clean. Using rooting hormone can also help speed up the process.

Leaves Turning Yellow

Yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering or stress. Check the moisture levels in the soil and make sure you’re not watering too often.

Mold on Cuttings

Mold growth on your cuttings can be caused by excess moisture or poor ventilation. Ensure that the water is clean and that your propagation area has good airflow.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to successfully propagate houseplants from cuttings and expand your plant collection in no time. Happy propagating!